Trenton students graduate from prestigious PUPP program

PRINCETON — Trenton is turning the corner with its education initiatives and results.

More and more Trenton High School graduates are going on to college and achieving academic success. Every week The Trentonian features stories about students who are reaching their academic goals. Such is the case of 11 Trenton High students who graduated from the Princeton University Preparatory Program on Wednesday night.

PUPP hosted its ninth graduation ceremony at the Princeton University campus at the Friend Center Lecture Hall. The ceremony honored 24 high school students from Trenton Central High School Chambers Street and West campuses, Ewing High School, Nottingham HS, Lawrence HS and Princeton High School, 11 of which are from TCHS. The students apply during their freshmen year in high school and take on the three-year program along with their regular academic year.

The ceremony honored the PUPP Alumni who have just graduated from college. Several of the alumni present at the graduation ceremony were TCHS alums.

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Romario Castro, Trenton Central High School West campus valedictorian for the 2013 class and PUPP participant, will be attending Princeton University in the fall.

“I feel a great sense of accomplishment graduating from this program. I know Princeton will feed my curiosity and I am confident I will learn from very scholarly people,” Castro said.

The PUPP identifies high school students in their sophomore year who are academically gifted, yet come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Selected students come to the Princeton University campus for three summers of rigorous study, and receive academic enrichment during the school year. All 24 will be attending college in the fall.

During the ceremony Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilgham advised students to remember to ask for help as they take on intense programs at their univeristies.

“A good percentage of our students are the first to come to college in their families. We are proud to have students from all over the country and all over the world,” Tilgham said.

“Based on what we have seen so far with these students,I see doctors, lawyers and engineers coming out of this group. I cant wait to see all the things they’re going to do,” Associated Director of PUPP Tori Wilson said.